Roller-skate.



J. G. DOAK. ROLLER SKATE. v APPLICATION TILED APR. 6, 1907.

Patente lApr. 30, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JAMES Gr. DOAK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROLLER-SKATE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. DOAK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRoller-Skates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to roller skates, such as employ balls for rollers,and more particularly, to an anti-friction or ball-bearing mounting forsuch ball-rollers.

As heretofore constructed, skates of this general class using balls forrollers have been objectionable on the ground of friction. Various waysof mounting the ball-rollers have been adopted with an idea to overcomethis fault, but none of them have proved thoroughly successful. Thepresent construction is adapted to give an absolutely frictionlessforward and backward rotation of the ball-roller while at the same timeretarding rotation of the ball-roller in any other direction, thusallowingthe skate to be moved forward or backward with the leastpossible effort,'while all tendency toward sidewise movement of the sameis retarded.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar letters indicatecorresponding parts in each of the several views :Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the device as applied to a skate, the rear half of theskate being omitted; Fig. 2 is a front view; Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44, Fig. 3; Fig.5 is a sectional view, the section being taken on the line 55 Fig. 4.Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of the interior of one of the detachablebearing cups or sections.

This invention, broadly speaking, comprises a supporting block of theform in general use in skates of this class for connecting the footplate of the skate to the box or journal adapted to carry the skaterollers. This supporting block is connected to a box comprising severalsockets in which are secured the several ball-rollers at each end of theskate. The sockets are constructed of several separable sections, eachcontaining ball races for anti-friction bearings for the ball-rollers.In the preferred form of the invention all of the connections abovementioned are detachable.

X represents the attaching or supporting block separably connected byscrews a: to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 6, 1907.

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

Serial No. 366,733.

middle section B of the ball-roller box designated as a whole by theletter A. The ball-roller box comprises three sections, B, C and I),separably connected by screws 0, said screws passing through sections Cand D respectively andtaking into section B, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.In the preferred form of the invent-ion, spacing pieces E in the natureof separators or washers are placed between sections B and C, and B andD, respectively. Section B is provided with cupshaped chambers or socketsections 6 at either side thereof, each of said chambers having formedtherein a circular vertical ball-race, Z), the axis of which is at rightangles to the normal line of travel of the skate. Suitable anti-frictionball-bearings o are placed in these races in such manner as to hold andsupport the ball-rollers A as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Sections G and D are provided with cupshaped chambers or socketsections, 0 and (Z respectively, similar to socket sections 1) andhaving ball races 0 and (Z respectively for containing ball bearings cand d Ball races 0 and cl are parallel to ball races 7) and the centersof all the ball races are in the same line.

In assembling the device, the ball-race b at one end of section B isfilled with antifriction ball-bearings b ball-roller A placed on thisanti-friction surface, washer E placed about the outer edge of chamber banti-friction ball-bearings c placed in ballrace 0 of sect-ion C,section C placed over the exposed portion of ball-roller A and all saidsections firmly bound in place by screws 0, as clearly shown in thedrawings. If desired, washers E may be omit-ted and sections B, C and Dso constructed as to compensate for such omission. The sections at theother side of the ball roller box are similarly assembled. By the use ofseparators or spacers E of various widths the device can be readilyadapted for the use of ball rollers of various sizes as desired.

Viewing Figs. 3 and 5, it is obvious that ballrollers A. in every caseare supported entirely by and between two parallel circles ofcontinuously revolving anti-friction ball-bearings. Likewise it is clearfrom both of said figures that a perfectly free rotation is permissiblein a forward and backward movement of the skate, there being practicallyno friction, whereas any movement at an angle to such line of travel isretarded by the frictional bearing between the walls of the ball-racesand the respective ball-bearings in such races.

It is obvious that many minor changes may be made in the construction ofthe several parts and the mode of assembling them without in any waydeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bearing for ball rollers, comprising a cent 'al section havinglaterally open cupshaped chambers in their opposite ends, circularvertically-disposed ball races being formed in the lateral walls of saidchambers, sup )len'1ental sections one on each side of said centralsection each formed with a cup shaped chamber provided with a verticallydisposed ball race, circular series of bearing balls running in saidraces, ball rollers supported by and between two circular series ofbearing balls, and means for connecting the supplemental sections to thecentral section to form sockets around the ball rollers.

2. The combination with the supporting block of a roller skate, of abearing comprising a central section secured to said block, and hollowedoutat each end to provide cup-shaped chambers each formed with avertically disposed circular ball race, supplemental sections formed ontheir inner sides with cup-shaped chambers having vertically disposedcircular ball races, confronting those of the central section, means fordetachably connecting said sections to form sockets, ball rollers withinsaid sockets, and circular series of bearing balls running in said ballraces and by and between which the ball rollers are supported.

3. The combination with the supporting block of a roller skate, of abearing comprising a central section secured to said block, and hollowedout at the under side of each end to provide cup-shaped chambers, eachformed with a vertically disposed cirlar ball race in its innermostwall, supplemental. sections t'ormed in their inner sides with cupshapedchambers having vertically disposed circular ball races confrontingthose of the central section, spacing washers between the centralsection and supplemental sections, means for securing the latter and thewashers to the central section,.ball rollers within said chambers, andcircular series of bearing balls running in the ball races andsupporting the ball rollers.

4. A roller skate comprising a supporting block, a section secured tothe under side of the supporting block and having its ends formed withconcave chambers and circular verti ally disposed ball races, in saidchamhers, end sections each having one face formed with a concavechamber opposed to a chamber in the lirst-mentiolled section and havinga vertically disposed circular ball race, circular series of ballsrunning in said races, ball rollers supported by and between thecircular series of balls, spacers between the first-mentioned sectionand each of the end sections, and means for securing the spacers and theseveral sections together, the opposed concave chambers forming socketsaround the ball rollers whereby said rollers are exposed for only asmall portion of their surfaces below the sections.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES G. DOAK. Vitnesses JOHN THIEL, M. J. MURPHY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

